Electronic equipment provided with an AI processor

Abstract

An image forming apparatus as electronic equipment includes an AI processor provided with a memory, a storage unit capable of storing a binary, which is a program for the AI processor, and an AI processor operation unit that operates the AI processor. The AI processor operation unit deploys, in the memory, the binary stored in the storage unit. The AI processor executes a function of the binary by loading the binary deployed in the memory. The binary is not included in firmware of the image forming apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Electronic equipment comprising:
 an AI processor provided with a memory; 
 a storage unit that stores firmware of the electronic equipment and a program for the AI processor, the program for the AI processor being stored in a specific storage area and being not included in firmware of the electronic equipment; and 
 an AI processor operation unit that operates the AI processor, wherein 
 the AI processor operation unit deploys the program stored in the specific storage area of the storage unit into the memory of the AI processor, 
 the AI processor loads the program for the AI processor from the memory of the AI processor, to execute a process instructed by the program loaded. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic equipment according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display unit; and 
 a display content control unit that controls display content on the display unit, wherein 
 the program stored in the specific storage area of the storage unit includes function information indicating a function that can be achieved by executing the process instructed by the program loaded, 
 the AI processor operation unit notifies the display content control unit of function information of the program stored in the specific storage area of the storage unit, and 
 the display content control unit causes the display unit to display an instruction accept portion that accepts an instruction to execute a function indicated by the function information notified from the AI processor operation unit. 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic equipment according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the program stored in the specific storage area of the storage unit includes a function version indicating a version of a function of the program, and 
 the display content control unit causes the display unit to display the instruction accept portion capable of accepting designation of a function version, when a plurality of the programs in which functions are same and function versions are different from one another are stored in the specific storage area of the storage unit. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic equipment according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the program stored in the specific storage area of the storage unit includes an input format of data to the program, and an output format of data from the program, 
 when a combination of two of the programs in which an output format of one of the programs is the same as an input format of the other program is stored in the specific storage area of the storage unit, the AI processor operation unit notifies the display content control unit of the combination, and 
 the display content control unit causes the display unit to display that functions of a combination notified from the AI processor operation unit can be used together. 
 
     
     
       5. Electronic equipment comprising:
 an AI processor provided with a memory; 
 a storage unit capable of storing a program for the AI processor; 
 an AI processor operation unit that operates the AI processor; 
 a display unit; and 
 a display content control unit that controls display content on the display unit, wherein 
 the AI processor operation unit deploys the program stored in the storage unit into the memory of the AI processor, 
 the AI processor loads the program for the AI processor from the memory of the AI processor, to execute a process instructed by the program loaded, 
 the program is not included in firmware of the electronic equipment, 
 the program stored in the storage unit includes function information indicating a function that can be achieved by causing the AI processor to execute the process instructed by the program loaded, 
 the AI processor operation unit notifies the display content control unit of function information of the program stored in the storage unit, 
 the display content control unit causes the display unit to display an instruction accept portion that accepts an instruction to execute a function indicated by the function information notified from the AI processor operation unit, 
 the program stored in the storage unit includes a function version indicating a version of the function of the program, and 
 the display content control unit causes the display unit to display the instruction accept portion capable of accepting designation of a function version, when a plurality of the programs in which functions are same and function versions are different from one another are stored in the storage unit.